Mokdar seals Astana success after all-French -57 kg final

Faiza Mokdar closed the first day in Astana with another gold medal in the women’s -57 kg category, winning an intense all-French final against Chloe Devictor at the Zhaksylyk Ushkempirov Martial Arts Palace.

It was a final that stayed active from the first exchanges. Both French judoka attacked and defended with conviction, but Mokdar looked slightly sharper from the start. She scored first with a Seoi-otoshi for yuko, then followed on the ground to finish the contest by Ippon.

That result gives Mokdar her second grand slam gold in Kazakhstan, a sign of how comfortable she looks in Astana when the pressure rises.

Mokdar found the opening first and never let the final drift away.

After the match, Mokdar said she always enjoys competing in Astana and suggested that feeling may help explain why she has now taken a second title there. Just as importantly, she described the performance as a strong base to build on, taking the season one event at a time.

Behind the French one-two, the bronze medal contests also carried real energy. Shannon Van De Meeberg gave the Netherlands another reason to celebrate, defeating Jessica Lima of Brazil with a well-timed Uchi-mata that scored Waza-ari. It was another strong moment for Dutch judo on the day, following Amber Gersjes’ gold at -48 kg.

For Van De Meeberg, this bronze mattered beyond the single match. In a category packed with attacking players, she stayed composed and struck at exactly the right moment to secure her place on the podium.

The second bronze medal went to Sarah Souza of Brazil, who beat Veronica Toniolo of Italy. Souza caught Toniolo with a Ko-soto-gake that surprised her and proved decisive. Both athletes put in a committed performance, but Souza was stronger on the day and finished with the medal.

From a European perspective, the category still had a clear stamp. France took gold and silver through Mokdar and Devictor, while the Netherlands added bronze through Van De Meeberg. Italy’s Toniolo also reached a bronze medal contest, underlining the depth of European presence in Astana even if she fell short of the podium.

The final standings at -57 kg saw Faiza Mokdar take gold, Chloe Devictor silver, and Shannon Van De Meeberg and Sarah Souza share bronze. It was a category that delivered sharp technique, real tension and a decisive finish when it mattered most.

France owned the final, and Mokdar made sure the gold stayed in her hands.

Source: IJF.org

Image source: IJF / International Judo Federation